MSTAR Grant Awarded, Open to Medical Students

The UNC Center for Aging and Health/Division of Geriatric Medicine, has been awarded a federal training grant designed to impact aging populations. The Medical Students Training in Aging Research (MSTAR) Program is a five-year National Institute on Aging T35 short-term training grant in aging research for medical students. The goal is to cultivate greater exposure to and interest in aging research and geriatrics.

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The UNC MSTAR program offers medical and osteopathy students a paid 8-12 week summer internship to conduct basic science, clinical or health services research with approximately 36 researchers from 31 divisions or departments across the entire UNC campus. In addition to the research program, students may elect to participate in clinical experiences in both inpatient and outpatient settings working with older adults ages 62 through 100+.

Read the perspectives of past students who have participated in this program:

“While I gained a lot of knowledge through my research project, my clinical experience was invaluable. I glimpsed into the life of a geriatrician, and I can honestly envision it as a future career. The complexity of the patients’ medical problems was surprising, but I was invigorated by the diagnostic challenges and cerebral nature of the practice.”

“Through MSTAR I gained insight about what it is like to be a physician who practices medicine but is also heavily involved in research, and it has made me more confident of my decision to be involved in research in the future when I become a physician.”